GUEST SPEAKER SPEECH

My respect to our Schoos Division Superintendent of SDO-Masbate Province, Raymundo M. Cantonjos,

It’s an incredible honor to stand before you today, not just as a guest speaker, but as a humble yet with
pride, alumna of this very school. Looking back, the last time I stood up on this stage was when I
delivered my valedictorian address on the 30th Graduation Ceremony of then, Ubo , since it's 53rd
Graduation Ceremony now, we do a little math here, how many years has passed? I remember a mix of
excitement, nervousness, and maybe a little bit of disbelief that Thanks be to God, it's been 23 years had
flown by, (gurang na gali ako, daw kasan o lang),

Before I came here, I've been thinking of things I might impart to this graduates...

I've been once a kid like you, trying to figure out what to do with my life, what will I be when l grow up. I
thought, after ten years I will be a successful person, I want to be a nurse. But it was a very far dream
for me, "kay kung pobre siguro kamo yana, mas pobre gid kami sadto." Sin-o ang may papa dire na ang
hanap-buhay, pag pangisda sa lawod?"

Back then, "si papang, ang amon amay mananagat, gamit ang baruto nga de layag." Sa adlaw nga
kainiton, parehos sini, adto sya sa tunga sang lawod nagapanubid, hibalo nyo kung ano ang panubid?
Naga-pangisda, nakikipagsapalaran na basi makahulik sang dako nga isda, tangigue, para makabakal
kami bugas. You know what, this part of my life I never proud to share to anyone, I don't know, it's not
that I'm ashamed of where or how humble I came from, but I'm scared of poverty. "Hindi ko ikinakahiya
ang pinakamahirap na parte san buhay ko, pero I never share or talk about it to anyone dahil natatakot
akong balikan ang kahirapan. Maski sa asawa ko I never share it to details like I do today, parang kasi,
takot ako balikan ang kahirapan, "natrauma ako" "nadudla gid ko sa kapobrehon." When I graduated
from this institution, I went Balud National High School, and I never been an honor student because I
read "sako-sako of pocket books" one after another, because when I read somehow, I escaped from my
reality." Sa kaka-imagine ko ng mga magagandang bagay sa binabasa ko, natatakasan ko ang realidad na
Meron ako noon.. Anong realidad? Na after school, basi magotos naman kami halin sa eskwelahan pauli,
nag gotos pakadto kag pauli, ang realidad, na nahadlok ka na mag mata sa aga 4:30 am para magtuna
naman lakat paeskwelahan...

I am very much thankful na ang Ubo ES nag-upgrade na to Ubo IS, kay kung sang panahon namon
Integrated School na ini, I maybe wouldn't experience such, na mahirap sa amon na mga estudyante, of
course mahirap man sa amon ginikanan. Kaya I would like to encourage those parents na nagabalak
paeskwelahon ila mga bata sa Balud pa, or sa mga estudyante nga para sosyal sa Balud pa maeskwela.
Kay ngaman ang "A" sa Balud lain kaysa sa letter "A" sa Ubo? Dear parents and students, we are
following the same curriculum in DepEd, ano ang ibig sabihin? The same topic, the same competencies
ang ituturo sa doon o sa Manila man, parehas lang 'yon, ang maganda pag dito kayo mismo mag-aaral sa
Ubo is, less gastos, hindi ka masyado pagod papunta at pauwi ng school because the government is
trying to help through making the education accessible within the community unlike ng panahon namin.
Ngayon nga, magaganda na mga classrooms nyo, (dalaga pa noon si Ma'am Josephine Balasabas-
Villaruel) halos si ma'am Jo na lang kasi nakita ko sa mga dating teachers namin noon, Grade 1 teacher
ko noon si Ma'am Jessica G. Beruya- nasa Canada na. Grade 2- si ma'am Daisy C. Hao nasa China na,
Grade 3- ma'am Merla V. Renio kasama na ni mam Daisy, Grade 4- ma'am Sarah P. Alob nasa Balud
Central School na, Grade 5- si sir Nicasio C. Gabilan, principal na somewhere in Cawayan and my Grade 6
teacher is the present schools district supervisor of Balud-North ma'am Arlene A. Dela Cruz dating
Villaruel.. that was the time na naga-uyog pa ang pader san mga classrooms pag nagadalagan kami nga
mga kabataan sadto, daw matumba ang pader sa amon. I remember one of the seminars I attended
during the time of Plan International, na pinagdrowing ako at si sir Nic with the Brgy officials naton, kung
ano ang mga bagay that we wanted for our Brgy, at hinayaan lang nila ako to present our output and I
remember itong mga plan buildings/classrooms ay isa sa mga hiniling ko noon bilang bata na magkaroon
dito, dahil hindi na ligtas para sa mga mag-aaral ang dating classrooms dito, kasama yung mga health
center at kindergarten classroom noon na may mga palaruan na sana nagagamit pa rin ng community.
Pero hindi ko na naabutang gamitin ang mga facilities dahil, lumaki na rin kami, nabanggit ko ito,
because what I am trying to say is, ang kahirapan namin noon, mas maalwan na kayo ngayon mga
kabataan, hindi na siguro kamo gapamayabas para makapabaylo papel, sadto, pag nagakare ako sa
eskwelahan may dala ako nga Isa ka bag nga chichirya para ibaligya, para makabulig sa parents ko..

considering the theme, "Generation of Unity: Partners for the New Philippines." o Henerasyon sa
Pagkakaisa: Kaagapay sa Bagong Pilipinas." For you to become partners or Kaagapay ng ating bansa, do
not be so lazy, na baka may mga iba dito sa mga graduates, ayaw na pumasok sa school, gusto na lang
mag-ML, gusto na lang manood at kiligin ng Kdrama or mag kidô-kidô saot sa TikTok, o pumapag-ibig
na..😅 dear students, aim to hit the mark... Do not be like a sailboat sailing aimlessly. Yung pag Wala
kang pangarap, you tend to be like a boat, bangka na naghihintay ng ihip ng hangin para makatakbo at
Wala ring direksyon kung saan pupunta.. determine within yourselves what do you want to be when you
grown-up, at least 15 years from now. Pray for it, work for it. Baka sabihin nyo, well ma'am, di ba gusto
mo maging nurse? Eh, bakit teacher ka? As you can see I am a graduate of Balud Municipal College
which Education o pagiging guro is most likely to be the career, I never regret though being a teacher.
Kaysa naman kung di ako nag-aral, baka di ako nag-asawa kasi I have this belief na, " pag di ako nakapag-
tapos ng pag-aaral at may stable na trabaho, Wala akong karapatang mag-asawa, mag-jowa o mag-
anak." Bakit? Anong buhay ang kaya kung ibigay sa anak ko o pamilya ko? This what I am trying to
inculcate especially to students/pupils na to be the best version of yourself, na somehow someday you
will come back to your mater with something to be proud of... Dahil nagsikap ka and if God willing,
magtatagumpay ka.
I'm not saying na mayaman na kami, no BIG NO! Mahirap pa rin naman kami ngayon, pero kumbaga
kung dati isad na tabagak lang ang kaya namon isud-an, baw subong duha na gid o Bisan tatlo pa nga
tabagak ang amon isud-an. 🤣

To the graduating class, I offer you three pieces of advice as you step into this next chapter:

First, embrace the challenges. High school, college, and life beyond will present obstacles. Don't shy
away from them; embrace them as opportunities for growth and learning. Remember the resilience
you've developed here; it will serve you well.

Second, never stop learning. The world is constantly changing, and continuous learning is key to success
and fulfillment. Be curious, be open to new experiences, and never stop seeking knowledge. Your
education doesn't end today; it's just beginning.

Third, find your passion and pursue it with unwavering dedication. What truly excites you? What are
you curious about? Follow your passions, and don't be afraid to take risks. The world needs your
unique talents and perspectives.

As you leave this institution, or baka dito rin kayo mag-aaral, remember the values you've learned here:
respect, responsibility, and perseverance. Carry these values with you, and let them guide you as you
navigate the future.

According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The only person you are destined to become is the person you
decide to be." -

Congratulations, graduates! I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Mabuhay! Have a nice day
everyone!